CHRIS Shuker has resigned himself to the news that his Manchester City career is coming to a premature halt.

CHRIS Shuker has resigned himself to the news that his Manchester City career is coming to a premature halt.

After enjoying a successful three-month loan at Rochdale, the feisty midfielder returned to Carrington a couple of weeks ago determined to convince boss Kevin Keegan that he could play a part in his plans.

Shuker signed a one-year extension to his contract in the summer and enjoyed a successful pre-season, starring in the Blues' 2-1 win over Feyenoord in Denmark and scoring goals in a number of friendlies.

With competition for places at its most fierce since Keegan took over, however, the City chief informed the 21-year-old earlier this week that he would be willing to accept offers from clubs if they came in for him.

And though he knows it will be difficult to convince Keegan to change his mind, Shuker is determined to do everything he can to prove that he can play a part in the manager's future plans.

"I have spoken to the manager and he said that a couple of clubs have already spoken to him but nothing has happened yet," said Shuker. It is understood that those clubs are Hartlepool and Oldham.

"I don't know what is going to happen but deep down, I still believe I can do a job here," he added. "I think going away to Rochdale has done me the world of good. I feel a much better player for having spent so long there.

"It toughened me up both mentally and physically. Whereas before I would go into tackles not really having a chance, now I'm going into them feeling that I can get the ball and more often than not I do.

Bully

"I knew I had been doing something right when we played against Birmingham reserves last week. Jeff Kenna was trying to bully me and take me down, yet when we went for a tackle, I knocked him over!

"I feel 10 times stronger and I have been pleased with the way I have been training. When the manager gave me an extra year on my contract I really thought this would be the year and he was really happy with me."

Shuker made his debut against Notts County as substitute in September 2001, scoring in a 4-2 Coca-Cola Cup triumph, while his first full game came against Blackburn Rovers at Maine Road 12 months later.

Since then, he has found it difficult to break back into the squad and apart from his time at Rochdale, he has also been on loan to Walsall in a bid to get some league experience under his belt.

But with Steve McManaman, Eyal Berkovic and Antoine Sibierski ahead of him in the tussle for midfield starting place, Keegan feels the only way to help the Academy graduate prosper is let him seek pastures new.

"There is a chance that Chris Shuker will go out on loan again," said Keegan. "We have had discussions with him and he knows that at the end of the season he will be going.

"Some of our young ones we feel have had a chance here. They have trained with us, but really need to look to get into stable football. We need to look at those decisions with those players.

"Those contracts run out at the end of the season and players are not silly - they know if they are not playing in the first team that they will not be offered anything else. There are one or two players like that."